ECV anyone?

[KarolinaMoon]

Hi ladies,
I am 37 weeks and my baby has been lying breech and now breech transverse. I am booked in to have an ecv this Thursday and if I decide not to have this, I have to ring the hospital before thursday to cancel and book a c section. The doctor who scanned me last week said she knew very little about the procedure....and the midwife didn't seem to like all my questions. ..I think she thought I should just go for it no questions asked. I have researched it myself now....and it seems that everyone has had different experiences of the evc. ...though the majority say it is excruciating!! That doesn't bother me in itself.....I am concerned about the risks involved like cord entanglement etc. My mother had this procedure carried out years ago and baby was born with cord around neck. This was before scans ofcourse

so I'm looking for advise/opinions from anyone who has had an evc. If I don't try to have baby turned it's straight to c section. ..

 

[Demaris]

I'm afraid I don't have any advice or experience on this but just wanted to say I hope you find some answers to your questions. Good luck in what you decide to do x

 

[bigbee]

I've been looking into this as baba was breech at my last MW appointment. I'm 30+4, and baba has turned but I'll be watching this thread just in case.

So, when MW told me baby was breech, I asked her whether c section was the only option. She said no, and that the baby can be turned manually. That's it, no other info. So I've done some reading, and seems like there are some risks associated with this procedure (as you say above). RCOG says EVC is "a little uncomfortable"... Ok then!!!!

Having done (limited) research on the Internet, I decided I'd just go for the c section.

 

[littlemonkey]

Some hospitals won't actually mannually turn the baby. I know mine doesn't suggest it unless you specifically ask for it. To be honest I'd be a little bit put off by the fact that so many hospital staff seem to know so little about it. Is there not a consultant you could speak to beforehand to reassure you and answer any questions. There are risks with turning the baby, such as the cord around the neck. There is also the risk that baby will just get themselves comfy again back where they were and you'll have gone through it all for nothing!

I'm having an elective section for different reasons, but honestly if you need an elective section, it's not too bad.

 

[monkeynut]

My baby is currently transverse (has been all the way through but still time to turn) however, of he doesn't turn after reading up on ECV I will be declining the option and going straight for a section.

 

[Elfs Mummy]

My daughter was breech I decided the risks of ECv out weighed any positives so I chose to have a c-section x

 

[CDx]

Will be keeping an eye on this, I'm 33 weeks and from 30 weeks baby has been breech. For the past 4 or 5 days I've had 2 solid bulges at either side of the top of my bump so thinking baby might now be transverse but hoping they are just lazy and having a rest before they complete the turn. It is so uncomfortable though!

I've been trying not to think about it too much with the hope baby still has time to turn but have had a look at ECV and thinking it's not for me, I don't care what they do to me but I don't want to put baby through unnecessary risks.

 

[Chazabell]

No advice I'm afraid but I had to look into this as my baby was breech until last week. If my baby was still breech I would not have opted for this procedure simply because I believe there must be a reason why they haven't turned, and they can turn back if it is successfull. I also didn't like the Stories that accompanied.

Have a think of what you wang to do and speak to your OH and go with your gut xxxx

 

[BunnyN]

No personal experience with EVC. I think its kind of 50:50 as to whether it works or not. Personally I'd be willing to try it for a 50% chance of avoiding a CS. Although it has some risks the risks of a CS are still higher. I can understand why some choose not to have it though.

As for the cord around the neck a pretty large percentage of babies (I think its about 30%) are actually born with cord around the neck and it is rarely a problem. My first had the cord tightly around her neck and the MW couldnt get it off until she was born but it wasnt a big deal. I think during an EVC it can get tangled and cause the baby distress. They keep a close eye on it and are standing by for an emergency CS if needed.

I think its totally normal to want to have someone who will answer your questions though.

 

[KarolinaMoon]

Thanks for your opinions/insights ladies. I rang the hospital today and got to speak to the mw who works at the evc clinic. Basically she said that the mw who told me I had to decide what to do by this Thursday was wrong and she shouldn't have put me under pressure like that. She explained the procedure a bit and said that I don't even have to decide on the day. She said they will want to scan me on thursday anyway as the baby may have turned by then anyway! So I feel a bit more relaxed about it all and will go on thursday to see what the doctor says!

 

[bigbee]

Karolina, good luck! Hope the baby turns. Fingers crossed.

And it's a shame that the MW put pressure on you like that.

 

[littlemonkey]

Thanks for your opinions/insights ladies. I rang the hospital today and got to speak to the mw who works at the evc clinic. Basically she said that the mw who told me I had to decide what to do by this Thursday was wrong and she shouldn't have put me under pressure like that. She explained the procedure a bit and said that I don't even have to decide on the day. She said they will want to scan me on thursday anyway as the baby may have turned by then anyway! So I feel a bit more relaxed about it all and will go on thursday to see what the doctor says!

At least you have been able to discuss it thoroughly with someone who knows what they're talking about. Glad they've put your mind at ease.

 

[CharlieB21]

Hi. My son was breech with his feet around his ears. I had ECV to try and turn him. They give you a muscle relaxant for your tummy to make manipulating easier which actually relaxes all muscles including your heart. I was monitored before and aftererwards but at times felt like my heart was racing. The consultant came in and tried to turn Finn but I could feel him almost stretch out in me as if he was digging his heels in. Needless to say it was uncomfortable and I stopped the procedure after five minutes. They scanned him and monitored his movement and heart for about twenty minutes afterwards until they were satisfied he hadn't been distressed by it all. I was mortified that could have even been a possibility. I had a c section at 39 weeks. It's a personal choice and I have known it be successful for some but personally I would never have it done to me again.

 

[KarolinaMoon]

Thanks Charlie for sharing your experience....seems to be alot who have experienced similar to you. I'm just hoping my baby will have turned by Thursday to be honest.....but if not then I'm just going to take my time deciding what to do. I think if the doctor says it will be easy to 'nudge" the baby into position with little fuss, then I may try it. Iv been told by the mw today that as my baby is transverse it is halfway there already and may just need a bit of a nudge round. It's also good to know the procedure can be stopped at any time. Not liking the sound of a racing heart either!!!!

Hi. My son was breech with his feet around his ears. I had ECV to try and turn him. They give you a muscle relaxant for your tummy to make manipulating easier which actually relaxes all muscles including your heart. I was monitored before and aftererwards but at times felt like my heart was racing. The consultant came in and tried to turn Finn but I could feel him almost stretch out in me as if he was digging his heels in. Needless to say it was uncomfortable and I stopped the procedure after five minutes. They scanned him and monitored his movement and heart for about twenty minutes afterwards until they were satisfied he hadn't been distressed by it all. I was mortified that could have even been a possibility. I had a c section at 39 weeks. It's a personal choice and I have known it be successful for some but personally I would never have it done to me again.